Matchroom Sport supremo Barry Hearn has emerged as a key figure in the attempted Saudi takeover of Newcastle United.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to buy the club for £340million and Magpies owner Mike Ashley is said to be mulling over what has been described as a 'serious approach'.
The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, alongside billionaire British brothers David and Simon Reuben, are part of a consortium in talks with the Newcastle owner over a takeover deal which is being brokered by financier, Amanda Staveley.
And Hearn, whose Matchroom stable leads promotion of professional boxing, darts and snooker, is reported to be key in those discussions.
Mail Online report that the former Leyton Orient owner is understood to have introduced Staveley to representatives of the Crown Prince at Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight title unification fight against Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua, who fights under the Matchroom Boxing banner, fought Ruiz Jr in the highly anticipated rematch in Diriyah and there is talk of Joshua fighting in the country again in the future.
Hearn is well connected in Saudi Arabia as a result, having negotiated the deal to bring the fight to Saudi Arabia.
